Safety sucker rod elevator



July 13 1926. 1,592,706

J. D.APR!DGEN SAFETY SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR 31a/vento July 13, 1926.

J. D. PRIDGEN SAFETY SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR Filed Feb. 1'?, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 muto@ um l ers

Patented July` 13, 1926.

AUNITEV'D `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAHDAVID PRIDGEN, OF LOUAN'N,Av ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-V'I-IIRD TOA.THOMAS,DAYIDKNGHT, OF SMACKOVER, ARKANSAS.

SAFETY SUCKER non nLEvAToR.

Application filed February The present invention relates toimprovementsv in means for pulling out and replacing. sectional suckerrods. Y

As the practice now in general use, a set of two elevators are'employedfor the purpose or" pulling or replacing sucker rods in oil orwater-wells. In the pulling of a sucker-rod by lthis method, first oneelevator is attached to a head ofV one rod length, and the rod is thenraised until the coupling at kits lower end is vrfree ofthe well casg,whereby upon attaching the other elevator to the head of the lower rodsection, the elevated rod section may be unscrewed iti-om its lowersection and the .process re` peated; liist attaching one elevator andthenr the other.` This procedure requires much time andlabonand quitefrequently the clevatorbecomes detached from the line or cable,resulting in considerable damage to property, and iii somefcasesinpersonal injury. f

It is therefore a-primary object of this invention to provide animproved means vfor 'pulling and replacing'sectional suckerrods, wherebymerely one elevator is employedin connect-ion with a wrench attachmentfor acconiplishing the pulling or replacing of the rod, said wrench`attachment beingsubstituted for the second elevator. l

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved elevator forsucker rods embodying' novel featuresot' construction whereby thesuckerrod will be prevented -irom moving out of the elevator when beingremoved or placed in a well.

A still further object of the invention is to providean improvedelevator of the character described, wherein thelocking arrangementwhich is automatic in its locking operation, also acts for centering.the sucker rod axially beneath the point of suspension ot tlieelevator,thereby eliminating possible ranting of the elevator. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during'the course ofthe following detailed description, takenV in connectionwith-the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a view 'in centralpverticalsecino- ' 'Figure 17, 1925.seriai Nojassi.

tion, and showing the improved sucker rod elevator and wrenchattachmentin operative relation to a casing and sucker rod.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved elevator, showing the rodretaining means in a raised position. l

15"",gure 3 is a side elevation of the elevator, and showing theretaining means in` a lowered position just prior to its being cantedinto a locked position.

Figure Llis a central vertical section ou line L -1l or Figure l,looking in the direction ot the arrows, and showing the retain-r 'ingmeans in alowered operative position `for axially centering the suckerrod'in the .nate'corresp'onding parts throughout the` several views,the; letter A 4may generally designate the improved suckerl rodelevator, and which in the example shown embodies a. body portion B; aretaining means C;

and a suspension means l). E may general-A ly designate a suclrer rodlength ot' suitable `construction, and F 'a casing for the rod.

The wrench attaclin'ient, which may be gen-l` orally designated by theletter G, comprises a rod holder or rest H, and a normally sep arablewrench portion I.

Referring more particularly to the body portion B of the elevator andwhich is preferably formed .ot ii'ietal, the same is otcylindricalhollow formation, being closed at its upper end by a top wall10,/ and at its lower endV by a bottom wall l1.. An

opening l2 of substantially rectangular i Y shape in formation, isprovided adjacent the lower end of the'tront portion ot the body,

and extends upwardly a suitable distance from a plane equal with t-heupper surface of the bottom wall ll. Centrally of the upper' portion ot'theV opening l2 and of less width than the opening, is a longitudinallyextendingV guideway 13 and the purpose of which will be subsequentlyexplained. Disposed. directly below the guideway 13 in the bottom wallll, and ex ,ending from the peripheral edge of the wall 11 to a pointaxially thereof, is a slot 1i for the reception of the wrench square l5of the sucker rod box or head 1G. lf desir Q., the upper face of thebottom wall ll may be slightly cupped toward its axial center for aidingin retaining the sucker rod E axially of the body.

Referring now to tbe retaining means C, and which is adapted forrelative movement with respect to the body portion B, the same embodiesallocling ring 17 which is pivotally mounted at substantial y rightangles to the slot llas by aligned pivot pins 1S which are adapted forsliding movement in vertically extending guide slots 19 provided in thebody portion B, and which slots are preferably disposed to one side ofthe medialvertical plane of the body portion B. This ring' 17 which isof slightly greater size than the outer dimension of the body B, andwhich is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6 respectively, has provided atits forward portion, an upwardly extending locking tongue 20 which is ofa size to permit of its being swung inwardly to a position whereby the,upper edge thereof will engage beneath the upper wall of the opening 12for locking th-e ring 17 in a lowered operative position `as shown inFigure 4. Disposed inwardly of the locking tongue 20, and preferably.secured to the tongue as by suit-able fastening elements 21, is asubstantially wedge shaped retaining block 22 being of such thickness asto permit of its being moved into the slot 14 when the retaining meansis in a lowered position. The guideway 13 is adapted to receive thistongue 22 when the means C is in a raised position, for preventingrotational strain upon the pivot pins 1S. Disposed diametricallyopposite to the locking tongue 20 and preferably formed integral withthe ring 17, is a hand grip or handle 23 which preferably extendsupwardly beside the body portion B. This handle portion 23 aside fromforming a suitable means for raising of the retaining means C, is ofsufficient weight to cause thel ring 17 to cant in a manner asillustrated in Figure 4 for locking the tongue 2O beneath the top wallof the opening 12 when the means B is in a lowered position. It willalso be seen that as the locking tongue swings inwardly, that thelocking block 22 will move into engagement with the upper collar portion24 of the sucker rod for holding` the sucker rod in the .axial center ofthe elevator. By so disposing the vertically extending guide slots 19 toone side of the vertical medial plane of the body B, and to that side atwhich the tongue 20 is disposed, thephandle side of the. means C willautomatically cant downwardly for performing the locking' operation whenthe means is lowered upon the elevator body.

Viith refer-ence now 'to the suspension means D, the .same preferablyconsists of an attaching eye 25 having a depending shank portion 26extending through an axially aligned opening provided in the' top wallof the body portion B. A shoulder 27 is preferably formed at thejuncture of the shank 26 with the eye 25, for bearing engagement withthe topl surface of the wall 10. A ball bearing arrangement 28, held inposition against the underface of the top wall 10 as by a nut 29,provides means for swivel connection of the means D and body portion B,at a point in vertical axial relation with the seat for the sucker rodE. lf desired, an opening 30 may be provided adjacent the upper .end ofthe body B for permitting of easy assembling of the suspension means Dwith the body.

Referring now to the wrench attachment G, and more specifically to therod holder or rest H, the same consists of a handle portion 31 having arest plate 32 provided at one end thereof, and which plate is formedwith an outwardly opening slot of a size to receive the reduced bodyportion 3i of the sucker rod E. A boss 35 is provided on the undersurface of rest plate 32, in concentric relation to the inner end of theslot 33, and is adapted to extend into the casing F for preventinglateral movement of the rod holder when supporting a sucker rod.Arranged at a point intermediate the handle portion 31 and rest plate32, are upstanding spaced apart arms 36 having their inner fiat facesdisposed in parallel confronting relation to one another. The wrenchmember I, which is of double end formation, is provided at each end withwrench heads 37 andr 38 having longitudinally opening slots of differentsizes for use upon sucker rod couplings having different sizes of wrenchsquares. Secured to one face of the wrench I, and having itsintermediate portion spaced from the wrench, is a longitudinallyextending retaining strip 39 having each end thereof secured to thewrench in any approved manner.v A bolt Ll() is adapted to extend betweenthe wrench I and strip 39, and have its ends mounted in the upstandingarms 86 of the holder H for permitting of reversing of the wrench memberupon removal of the bolt. It can be seen that by so slidably andpivotally mounting the wrench upon the holder H, that the wrench membermay be slid into and out of holding relation with the wrench square 15,and also inclined at various angles for proper engagement with thewrench square as is illustrated in the dotted line ,showing in Figure 1.Thisconstruction permits `of the wrench attachment being applicable tovarithe head'of the sucker rod, with the wrenchv square 15 sliding intothe'sloty 14, and the shoulder 2a resting upon the upper surface o' thebottom wallll at a point axially of the elevator.V The retaining meansCV may then be lowered to its fullest extent and whereby, due to thespecial pivotal supporting thereof, the same will. automatically cantdownwardly at one side, thereby locking the tongue 2() in the opening 12and swinging the bloclr 22 inwardly for centering the sucker rod withinthe elevator.

Theelevator and sucker rod may'then be raised a slight distance forpermitting withdrawal of the device G, and'then raised ak su'liicientheight until the next coupling of the sucker rod sections is disposedashort distance above the top of the casing F. The device G may then beslid intoposition with the rest plate positioned about the body portionof the rod below the head 16, and the wrench l Vmoved into position withthe wrench square 15 as illustrated in the dotted line showing inFigure 1. The sucker rod may then be lowered until the head 16 seatsupon the rest plate 32, and the boss 35 eX- tends into the casing F forpreventing accidental displacement of the holder G with the sucker rod.Any suitable wrench may then be applied to the upper sucker rod section,and by grasping the holder G with the' other hand, the upper section maybe readily unscrewed from the lower section; whereby, after removal ofthe raised rod section from the elevator A, and withdrawal of the wrenchI from engagement with the lowerV rod section, the elevator may becoupled to this section as betore stated, and the process.

repeated as before. Owing to the swivel mounting oi' the elevator bodyB, it will be seen that there will be no liability of the elevatorbecoming uncoupled from its line or cable when the elevated rod sectionis being unscrewed from its contiguous lower rod section. V

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that by so employingan improved combined rod holder and wrench in combination with animproved elevator' as described, that merely one elevator is requiredfor pulling or replacing sucker rods in wells,

and that this process of pulling and replacing sectional sucker rodswill be accomplished in an efficient and expeditious manner.

Various minor changes may be made as to the speciiic construction andoperation ot the device herein shown and described, with- Aout departingtrom the spirit `oi tne' invention or the scope of the tollonfingclaims.

claim:

1. An elevator for sucker rods, comprising La hollow body portion havinga transversely extending slot provided in its bottom wall for receptionoi the rwrench square asucker rod, locking means embodying ablockextending into the hollow body poi'- tion and adapted tor movementinto said slot in engagement with the sucker rod head for preventingwithdrawal ot' the rod lroin the slot, and suspension means carried bysaid body Jtor attachment to a line or cable.

2. An elevator for sucker rods-comprising a hollow body portion having atrans-- versely extending slot provided in its bottom wall for receptionof the wrench square of a suekerrod, retaining means movable relative tosaid body and embodying a. retaining bloclr adapted for swingingnieveinent into said slot for centering the sucker rod in the elevatorbody and locking the rod against movement out ot the slot, and swivellymounted Lsuspension means carried bythe upper portion of the body forsuspending the. elevator from a.' line or cable.

3. An elevator for sucker rods comprising a hollow body portion having atransversely extending slot provided in its bottom wall for receptionofthe wrench square oi' a sucker rod, retaining means for said rodcomprising a locking ring slidably mounted eXteriorly of the bodyportion and embodying a. retaining block adapted for movement intothe-slot of said body portion, means for locking the retaining means inlowered operative relation to said rod, and means for suspending theelevator Vtrom a line or cable.

l. An elevator -for sucker rods comprising a hollow body portion havinga transversely extending slot provided in its bottom wall tor receptionof the wrench square ot' a Sucker rod, retaining means slidably andpivotally mounted exteriorly ot the body portion and adapted forautomatic canting into a locked position upon its downward limit otmovement for locking the sucker rod against movement out of the slot insaid body portion, and means Vtor suspending the elevator from asuitable means.

5. An elevator' for sucker rods comprising a hollow body7 portion havinga top wall, and a bottom wall having a slot tending from the axialcenter oi the body portion to the outer surface thereof, a loclr- Vingring pivotally and slidably mounted inl said ringi and adapted -formovement into from the axial center of the body portion to the slot inseid bottom Wall upon the downthe outer Surface thereof, means carriedby Ward limited movement oi tlle looking` ring, the Jtop Wall forsuspending the elevator means for looking said ring in its lowered froma suitable support, :1nd means for re* 5 position upon cnnting o thering, and means taining n, sucker rod in the slot ofsaid bot- 15 forsuspending the elevator from a suitable tom Wall embodying a verticalmovable lockmeans. ing ring adapted for automatic oanting in- 6. Anelevator for Sucker rods compristo a looked position upon its downwarding a hollow bod)7 portion lnwing n top well, limit of movement. n Y

10 and a bottom wall having a slot extending JOSIAH DAVID PRDGICN.

